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The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation unveiled the Lal Commission report on dedicated feeder and trunk lines in a press conference on Monday. The report, commissioned to address disputes between industrialists and the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) over electricity supply, was made public following a decision by the Council of Ministers on Sunday.

Key decisions from the Council include reconnecting electricity to industries whose power lines had been cut, and enforcing a 15-day deadline for industries on dedicated and trunk lines to clear outstanding arrears as per their TOD meter readings. The commission, led by former judge Girish Chandra Lal, was established on Jan 9 and submitted its findings to the ministry on May 5, aiming to bring resolution and reforms in industrial electricity supply management.

The government of Bangladesh is preparing to issue a red notice through Interpol to bring back those involved in the mass killings of July and August, including Sheikh Hasina and the fugitives. Law Affairs Adviser to the government, Asif Nazrul, said this during an interaction with the media. 

Regarding a specific complaint from the Awami League to the International Criminal Court (ICC), the law affairs adviser said, without divulging the details, that the ICC is unlikely to accept the complaint. He said the Awami League’s complaint was filed solely to tarnish the government’s reputation, and there is no reason to accept it.

Nepal Electricity Authority’s (NEA) Karnali Province Office has set an ambitious target to provide electricity to all households in Karnali within the next 18 months. Currently, 74.25 percent of households in the province have access to electricity, leaving 24.75 percent yet to be connected. Despite the challenges posed by Karnali’s rugged terrain, the NEA is determined to complete electrification within the given timeframe, supported by a contract worth Rs 12bn.

Shambhu Kusiyat Yadav, head of the NEA Karnali Province Office, expressed confidence in the project’s success. “Karnali will be fully illuminated within the next year and a half,” Yadav said. “We are working diligently to expand electricity service to every household.”

The NEA has completed surveys in areas where electricity has not yet reached, and the contract process for expansion is underway. Transportation of materials for the extension project is in progress, aiming to ensure that all Karnali residents have electricity within the target period.

Karnali currently has 279,078 households connected to the national grid, while 35,698 households rely on small hydropower, and 244,344 households use solar power, according to the NEA Karnali Province Office.

Electrification status across Karnali districts

The highest electrification rate is in Rukum Paschim, where 94 percent of households are connected. In contrast, Humla has the lowest electrification rate at just 24 percent. Other districts’ electrification rates are as follows:

• Surkhet: 84 percent
• Salyan: 77 percent
• Jajarkot: 45 percent
• Kalikot: 70 percent
• Jumla: 57 percent
• Dolpa: 39 percent
• Dailekh: 80 percent
• Mugu: 34 percent

Thirteen of Karnali’s 79 local levels remain without electricity, including six in Dolpa, four in Humla, and three in Mugu. The NEA aims to reach these areas within 18 months, overcoming geographical barriers to make Karnali a fully electrified province. Local levels still without electricity include Dolpo Buddha, Shey-Phoksundo, Jagdulla, Mudkechula, Kaike, and Charkatangsok in Dolpa; Sarkegad, Chankheli, Adanchuli, and Tanjakot in Humla; and Mugumkarmarong, Soru, and Khatya in Mugu.

Karnali bright program and state funding

Karnali lags behind Nepal’s other provinces in electrification, prompting the state government to launch the Karnali Bright Program to eliminate energy poverty in the region. This year, the government allocated NPR 100 million to the program, managed by the Ministry of Water Resources and Energy Development. However, Engineer Prem Bahadur Oli noted that staffing shortages have slowed the progress of small hydropower projects.

Initiated under former Chief Minister Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, the program originally aimed to electrify 90 percent of Karnali households by 2023. While that goal remains unmet, the government and NEA continue to work toward bringing light to every home in Karnali.

The foundation stone for the cable car leading to Pathibhara Temple, a famous religious shrine in Taplejung, was laid on Friday. Member of the Constituent Assembly Dumbardhwaj Tumbahamfe and Mayor of Phungling Municipality Amir Maden jointly laid the foundation stone at Kaflepati, the starting point of the cable car construction, after performing a worship ceremony.

Indra Kedem, head of the construction company Himalaya Construction, shared that the foundation stone was laid amid cheers for Pathibhara Devi, with political party representatives and local residents present. “We have laid the foundation stone for the cable car construction in the presence of all the district’s political party representatives, the mayor, people’s representatives, and locals. Now, the work will proceed at a fast pace,” said Kedem, the company’s owner.

Mayor Maden emphasized that the Pathibhara cable car is not just for one company but is connected to the broader economic, social and cultural development of Taplejung district. “It will be the cornerstone of the economic prosperity of Taplejung and Koshi province as a whole,” he said.

Rudra Paudel, a board member of the cable car company, stated that the trees in the construction area were cleared, and the foundation stone for the cable car was laid on Friday. Paudel also informed that the cable car will be ready for operation within the next 15 months. “This cable car will promote tourism, create jobs, maintain environmental balance, and contribute to economic and social development,” he added.

However, the construction attempt was met with conflict at Tallo Phedi in Phungling municipality, where protesters threw stones at the site. Police responded with a baton charge, resulting in several minor injuries among the protesters. The situation is now under control, according to Koshi Province’s DIG Chandra Kuber Khapung.

The Nepal government approved the project in 2018, and the National Planning Commission declared the cable car a national priority project following a recommendation from the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration in July 2018.

Since the announcement of the Pathibhara cable car project, Indigenous communities and activists have led an opposition campaign. Indigenous lawyer Shankar Limbu even filed an appeal with the Supreme Court against the project being developed by the IME Group, to no avail. Opponents argue that the project will primarily benefit investors, not local communities. While developers claim the project will provide employment opportunities for locals, critics contend that this will not compensate for the significant economic losses to porters, small business-owners and others.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli dismissed any possibility of a State Partnership Program (SPP) agreement with the United States during a brief interaction with journalists at Biratnagar Airport on Monday. Responding to questions while exiting the airport, Oli clarified, “There will be no SPP agreement.”

This statement follows recent remarks from CPN (Maoist Center) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who voiced suspicions that the government might sign an SPP agreement. Speaking at a press conference in Makwanpur on Sunday, Dahal claimed that the government could consider a deal under the SPP, potentially even more contentious than the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement. He alleged that Oli had previously expressed theoretical consent for such an arrangement.

Oli, however, refuted these claims, emphasizing his focus on economic prosperity for Nepal. “We are working for the prosperity of the country,” he added, declining further questions. 

A flash flood and mudslide struck Thame village in Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality of Solukhumbu district on August 16. The villagers had not anticipated such a disaster. In an instant, the flash flood transformed Thame village into barren land.

For Tasi Lhamu Sherpa, Vice-chairperson of Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality, the sudden event still feels like a dream. “We are vulnerable to climate-induced risks,” he said, adding, “People here are still worried about the possibility of avalanches.”

The disaster was triggered by continuous rainfall across multiple areas, including the Kathmandu Valley, from Sept 26 to 28. According to data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), 250 people lost their lives over those three days. Additionally, 18 people went missing, at least 178 were injured, and about 6,000 private homes were damaged, as reported by NDRRMA.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has warned that rice production will decrease due to heavy rains at the harvesting stage.

Three years ago, unseasonal floods caused paddy losses worth over Rs 8bn, according to ministry statistics.

The Melamchi Drinking Water Development Committee reported that flooding in the Melamchi and Indrawati Rivers in Sindhupalchowk, less than a week after the monsoon onset three years ago, caused significant damage to the project. As a result, preparations are being made to relocate the Melamchi project’s ‘Herdbox’ to a safer site.

After a nearly three-decade wait, Kathmandu residents’ hopes of accessing Melamchi drinking water were shattered by the flood. The project now operates only in the winter, closing each rainy season due to flood risks.

This year alone, 495 people have died, 66 are missing, and 522 have been injured due to monsoon-related disasters, according to NDRRMA.

Such climate-change-related risks are becoming increasingly common.

The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has begun in Baku, Azerbaijan, and will run until Nov 22. Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel, leading the Nepali delegation, will address the global summit.

According to the President’s Secretariat, he will emphasize the urgent need for mountain and environmental protection in meetings with heads of state and senior officials from over 192 countries.

Sindhu Prasad Dhungana, Chief of the Climate Change Management Division under the Ministry of Forest and Environment, noted that examples of climate-induced disasters, including the Thame glacial outburst, will be presented at COP29.

“We will advocate for access to climate finance to address loss and damage from climate impacts,” he said. Other key issues include international climate finance access, capacity building, and technology support for Nepal’s second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP).

The economic toll from climate-related events has increased significantly. “We face disastrous events from glacial melt, snow, and landslides,” Dhungana noted. “We will request adequate funding from nations responsible for major emissions.”

Kamal Raj Joshi, Director General of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, warned that 47 major glacial lakes in Nepal are at risk of outburst, which could result in significant human and economic losses. “Twenty-five of the most vulnerable glacial lakes are in China, 21 are in Nepal, and one is in India,” he said, stressing the need for greater investment to reduce these risks.

Climate expert Manjeet Dhakal stated that showcasing these climate risks at COP29 would support Nepal’s case for international assistance.

New research by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) indicates that climate change could reduce GDP in developing Asia and the Pacific by 17 percent by 2070. According to a study by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the Hindu Kush Himalayan region is experiencing glacier melt at a rate three times the global average, with glacier melting increasing by 65 percent between 2011 and 2020.

Developing countries like Nepal are preparing to pressure the global community to mitigate climate change impacts in mountainous regions. The Nepali delegation at COP29 is focusing on six priority areas to combat climate risks and advance national interests.

The Ministry of Forest and Environment has prepared six thematic papers on climate finance, loss and damage, carbon trading, emissions measurement, mountain issues, technology, capacity building, climate adaptation, and inclusion.

Joint-Secretary Buddhi Poudel stated, “We have prepared Nepal’s national position paper, covering topics such as climate adaptation, climate finance, agriculture and food systems, health and climate, energy transition, water and climate action, and nature for climate.”

There is a push for effective implementation of the Climate Loss and Damage Fund established at COP28 in Dubai, UAE, last year.

Dozens of enthusiastic cosplayers gathered at the Nepali annual festival of ‘Otaku Jatra’, embracing the pop culture in the Himalayan nation by dressing in various anime characters.

‘Otaku Jatra’ is the occasion when enthusiasts and fans see their favorite anime characters come alive. The annual cosplay fest brings in thousands of footfalls and enthusiasts from Nepal to embrace pop culture.

This festival started lately in the Himalayan Nation, setting a large impact and vigorous presence only after 2016, although it has been in existence since the early 21st century. Starting small in 2010, the festival now has turned into a mega gathering which is slowly transforming from a fan art competition to cosplay and gaming.

“This sort of event helps people understand more about pop culture. People are curious about the cosplays, anime characters and what kind of characters they are and they come here to understand more about it. My elder sister also isn't aware of anime and pop culture but she came to attend the event and got the introduction. This sort of event is a platform to give them knowledge and understanding about it,” Arun Limbu, one of the cosplay fans, told ANI.

A portmanteau of ‘Costume Play’, cosplay is an activity and performance art where participants wear costumes and fashion accessories to represent mostly a fictional character seen in anime.

People dressed as characters often interact to create a subculture and also perform role-playing tasks in venues apart from the stage. Anime, cartoons, comic books, Mangas, TV series and video games are the main source for cosplays.

“It’s pretty free fun actually. It makes me feel like I am in an anime community and has brought a lot of things together and I really like it,” Prapti Aryal, a cosplayer attending the fair, told ANI.

It is believed that the tradition of cosplay came out of the practice of fan costuming at science fiction conventions in New York in the early 20th century. The word cosplay is said to have been coined in Japan in the mid-20th century. Computer-generated animation originating from Japan, Anime has continued to influence youngsters and now has become an integral part of their lives. Most youngsters, especially millennial and Generation Z are fond of the animated characters which drove them to the event.

“It gives ideas about anime and not only anime, you can find novel-related stuff here. I could see a character from a novel that I read- Heaven Official’s Blessing. There are lots of stuff that are present here plus it gives an insight about why people are crazy about anime. It gives insights and closure into how the characters are rather than what we just see...,” Aryal further added.

Cosplay events are common features of fan conventions and today, there are many dedicated conventions and competitions, as well as social networks, websites, and other forms of media centered on cosplay activities. Cosplay is very popular among all genders, and it is not unusual to see crossplay, also referred to as gender-bending.

The Japanese version of the animation -- Anime is generally perceived as cartoons which have multiple genres of romance, sci-fi, horror and many others. Drawing a distinct difference between the normal cartoons which have been playing over channels, anime mostly focuses on real-life issues or human emotion. While being closer to humans, some of its contents are more violent and sexually explicit.

Connecting stories from one episode to the other like in the series, the stories of anime progress while the cartoons are made with an intention to make the people laugh.

The first anime ever released on TV—Astro Boy was released in Japan around 1963. Since then, many American and European countries have come forward with anime which have become blockbusters.

Generation Z (the generation reaching adulthood in the second decade of the 21st century) has started accepting and adapting anime as a source to learn real-life skills, hardships, friendship, courage and determination to pursue the dream, time management and teamwork. This distinct feature has driven the youth towards anime. 

ANI

Mumbai: Manisha Koirala’s father Prakash Koirala is a former Cabinet Minister and her grandfather Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala was the Prime Minister of Nepal. Despite being associated with a prominent political family, the actor is not interested in joining politics.

In an exclusive conversation with ANI, the ‘Bombay’ actor shared the reason why she is not keen to get into the political arena.

“I feel for an actor to be a good politician, it’s a struggle. Because as an actor, we get so much attention. So much is like on our call. We are like bosses. A politician is basically though there is a leader and you drive the people but you are also a servant of the people,” said Koirala.

She continued, “You are there to help people so if you have understood this if you have accepted that you are basically a servant of the people and there is a sense of service, then you will succeed. But a lot of actors have not been able to go beyond their own because we are pampered a lot. So many eyes are on us. So much attention we get. If we can leave that pampered-ness, then we can be a very good person in politics.”

Koirala was born into a politically-prominent family and this is the reason she understands politics very well and feels that it is not just a means to gain power.

As she mentioned, “Politics for me is service. Politics for me is not power. Politics for me is not that I want to be a PM or I want to be a minister or ten people are behind me.”

Although Koirala comes from a very illustrious political family from Nepal, she entered the film industry and opted for acting as a profession which was completely new to her and her family.

She said, “I was a black sheep of the family, but it turned out the other way around. I grew up in Banaras and my schooling was in Vasant Kanya Maha Vidyalaya and then from there, of course, Army Public School in Delhi, I studied for two years. Then after that, I got into movies.”

She first did a Nepali ad film which she got because of her mother’s cousin, “He was a batchmate of Jaya ji and everybody in Pune. So he was an ad film-maker in Nepal. So he called me and got my makeup done and took my photo and told me that you are very photogenic. Will you do an ad film? I said yes and from there developed an interest in acting and said that I wanted to go to Bombay. I want to be in the film industry. There was a lot of opposition as nobody knows that industry.”

Talking about the political scenario in Nepal, she said, “I grew up in a political family and I understand politics. My grandmother would say, it’s a sewa, and it’s for the people. I asked my father how do you define politics? And he said it’s a dream that you have for the people. So everything is for the people. And whenever that gets detached from reality, there’s trouble. I feel if the current lot of political people involved in Nepal could understand.”

Koirala continued, “Nepal is a landlocked country. Nepal is also very traditional in mind. Nepalese people are also very forward-thinking and very open to it. It’s a good society. It’s an open society but at the same time very rooted in tradition.”

She further shared her take on democracy and the constitution in Nepal and how it affected people. The constitution in Nepal came into effect in 2015.

The actress said, “I think there is no other solution to democracy. However, it is not a facade of democracy. But in a true sense, there should be a democracy. A stable democracy.”

Giving her insight on the impact of the constitution on people, she said, “They should have given a space to the monarch. 90 percent of the people or 80 percent of the people are Hindu in Nepal. Somehow or the other respects the king. That factor should not have been overlooked. And somehow it was. And somehow it's not going down too well… the sudden changes, sudden this thing.”

The Nepali royal massacre occurred on 1 June 2001 at the Narayanhiti Palace.

Recalling the massacre in the palace, she said, “I was shooting and I was in London at that time. And it was completely devastating. I was like howling. My mother was with me. My dad has cried and howled on the phone.”

Meanwhile, on the work front, she is known for her movies such as ‘1942: A Love Story’, ‘Bombay’, ‘Khamoshi: The Musical’, ‘Gupt’, ‘Dil Se’, and many more.

Koirala is currently being lauded for her role as Mallika Jaan in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s debut web series ‘Heeramandi’.

In the show, Koirala  shared screen space with Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Shaikh and Aditi Rao Hydari among others. Set against the backdrop of India’s struggle for independence in the 1940s, the show explores the lives of courtesans and their patrons, delving into the cultural dynamics of Heeramandi. 

ANI